Flyers vs. Devils

Philadelphia -135 vs. New Jersey

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Two Eastern rivals who are red hot will meet up in the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia as the Flyers play host to the Devils.

The Flyers (12-7-5) have finally gotten on track in recent weeks after a season of inconsistency which saw long losing streaks sandwiched between an extending winning streak. Perhaps Philadelphia is just a streaky team as they saw their six-game winning streak snapped last Friday with an overtime loss at home to Carolina and was followed up the next night by another loss in Toronto. However the Flyers got back on track with another overtime game, this time a 4-3 win Tuesday night.

The hopes that they are not just a streaky team was seen in the game against Tampa Bay because Philadelphia struggled most of the way. Good teams find ways to win on days when they are not playing their best and this was the case for Philadelphia. They saw a 3-1 lead evaporate with less than five minutes remaining in the game to force overtime on a goal by the Lightnings Jeff Carter. Mike Richards saved the Flyers on this night as he scored his second goal of the game two minutes into the overtime stanza.

How Philadelphia plays against an improving New Jersey team will show whether they are just a streaky team or indeed a good team, however they will be without one of their stars. Danny Briere suffered a groin strain and will be gone for four to five weeks. Briere was returning from nine games on the bench from the same issue.

New Jersey (12-8-2) does not have any sympathy for their rivals injury problems as the team struggled in the wake of the injury to Martin Brodeur is will be out until late winter.

The Devils have finally found a way to cope without their franchise goalie and had a recent five-game winning streak, which was a season high. That streak was snapped at Pittsburgh 4-1 Saturday in a game that saw Sidney Crosby record a hat trick.

The teams have met twice this season in a home-and-home set back on October 24 and 25. The Flyers won both contests, with the most recent coming in overtime. Philadelphia has won three straight over New Jersey, a team that usually gives them fits. Prior to their modest three game winning streak over the Devils, the Flyers were winless in 18 of the previous 21 games.

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